Type-writing machine.



J. K. LUX.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1910.

1,092,779, Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. K. LUX.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. 1910.

1 092,779. Patented Apr. 7, 19%

E SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

JULIUS K. LUX, or JERsEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB. TO UNnEnwoon TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JULIUS K. LUX, a citizen of the United States, residing in Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type- Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanisms for turning the platen forwardly or backwardly for a part of a regular line-space to enable the types to print above or belowthe usual line of writing; and. is in the nature of an improvement on United States Patent to Forkarth No. 918,308, dated April 13, 1909.

In said Forkarth patent, the fractional linespacing is effected by means of a dog which normally stands disengaged from the usual platen line-space wheel, but which may be moved by the operator in one direction into engagement with said wheel and in another direction to rotate the platen either forwardly or backwardly, as the case may be.

One of the objects of the present invention is to simplify the manipulation of the device, and to this end I provide a fingerlever which normally stands-in a central position, but which may be swung therefrom either directly forward or directly back, as far as it will go, thereby positioning the platen in the manner required. This finger-lever has means for first setting and then operating the dog which directly engages and operates, the line-space wheel.

The operation of the finger-lever from idle position, either forwardly or backwardly, first throws the dog or dog-lever into engagement with the platen ratchet, or linespace wheel; continued movement of the finger-lever in the same direction causes the dog to swing the ratchet and platen through part of a regular line space.

Another object of the invention is to enable the fractional line-space interval to be regulated.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a rear perspective of one form of the invention applied to an Underwood frontstrike writing machine, showing the parts in normal positions. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the positions of the parts when the mecha- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. a, rare.

Application filed July 15, 1910. Serial No. 572,073.

into the line-space ratchet. Fig. 4. shows the positions of the parts when the finger-lever has completed its throw in one direction. Fig. 5 shows the positions of the parts durlng the first portion of the return stroke of the finger-lever to normal or idle position. Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 4, but showing the finger-lever at the opposite limit of its movement. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan. Fig. 8 is a detailperspective of the dog and its tooth. Fig. 9 1s a detail perspective of the cover plate. Fig. 10 shows one of the adjustable stops. Fig. 11 is aside view of the mecha n 1sm in normal position. Fig. 12 is a similar view, full lines showing the positions of the finger-lever and dog-lever at one limit of their movement, dotted lines showing the opposite positions of the parts.

A platen 1 has an axle'2 journaled in the platen frame end 3 of an Underwood writing machine. Line-space mechanism, mounted on one of the platen frame ends, comprises a lever 4, operating a slide 5, carrying a pawl 6 to act upon a ratchet wheel 7 fast on the axle, to turn the platen through one or more regular line-spaces. This mechanism is normally protected by a cover plate 9, having :1 depending flange or apron 10. A spring-pressed detent 8 engages the linespace ratchet. The ratchet is also equipped with a fractional line-spacing mechanism comprising a finger-lever ll pivoted at.l2 to a mount 13 secured to the apron'or flange 10 of the cover plate, to swing in opposite directions from its normal central position, to turn the platen forwardly or backwardly. Said finger-lever has a cam slot 14 having divergent cam faces 21, 22, terminating in shoulders 23, 26, the. latter formed at angles to abutments 24, 27, forming the ends of the slot 14. These cam-faces, etc, are employed in operating the dog-lever, causing it to engage the line-space ratchet and turn the latter, as will presently be explained. Oppositely-facing returning abutments 25 and 28 project into the cam slot, intermediate its ends; said slot in effectforming two oppositely-turned elbow-slots joined. together.

-The finger-lever or handle acts upon a tooth 15, which projects through an open} ing 34 in the apron 10, into the cam slot 14, said tooth projecting from a dog 16. This dog is in the form of a plate, lying against the face of the apron, and havin a slot near one end by which it is loose y journaled upon the platen axle 2, to admit of radial as well as vibratory or angular movements of the dog relatively to the platen axle. Said tooth 15 normally occupies the recess formed by the divergent cam faces 21, 22 of the cam slot 14, when the finger-lever is in its normal central position, and is out of mesh with the line-space ratchet 7. Said tooth is yieldingly' held in this position by a returning spring 18, bearing against the side of a headed stud 18*, the head preventing the disconnection of the spring. The pressure of the tooth 15 a ainst the converging cam facesholds the ger lever in nor mal position.

The mount 13 has a guide wall 20 about concentric with the line-space ratchet, and interrupted by a recess 19 projecting laterally therefrom to form a seat lying out of the path of the ratchet, for the tooth 15. The seat or recess 19 and the space between the divergent cam. faces 21, 22 of the cam slot 14 register when the lever is in its normal central position, to accommodate the tooth 15 which then lies clear of the ratchet 7. When the finger lever 11 is rocked in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) to turn theplaten rearwardly or counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, the cam face 22, which lies at an angle to the tooth 15, rides against the tooth tocrowd the latter, together with the dog 16, radially inwardly or toward the platen axis, against the tension of the sprin 18, to mesh the tooth with the ratchet, and a so to brin it into contact with the guide wall 20. he return of the tooth to the recess 19 is now blocked by the interposition of the shoulder 23, which is caused by the lever to lieacross the mouth of the recess (Fig. 3) when the tooth has been crowded out of said recess. At this time, also, the finger piece 11 has brought'the abutment 24 against the tooth 15, so that continued movement of the finger-lever in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3) turns the tooth and ratchetto rotate the platen through port of a regular line-space; the

tooth 15 being held in mesh with the ratchet durin such' -movement, by the guide wall 20. T e dog 16 rocks about the axle 2, until arrested by contact with stop 29.

The platen may be held between two'lines of writing, because of the frictional contact of the tooth 15 with fixed uide wall 20, to enable an operator to use oth hands in writing. To return the. 'laten to normal position writing, the lever 11 is swung from the Fig.

4 to the Fig. 5 position, thereby movin the abutment 24 away from one side 0 the tooth 15 and bringing the returning abutment 25 against the opposite side of the so as to print on t e regular line of tooth to cause the latter, by pressing against tooth b of the ratchet, to return the latter and the platen to original position. When the lever 11:is moved from Fig. 2 to its Fig.

6 position, to turn the platen forwardly, the

cam face 21 crowds tooth 15 out of its seat 19 into mesh-with the ratchet 7, the shoulder 26 blocking the return of the tooth, and the abutment 27 forcing the tooth against a tooth b of the ratchet, to turn theplaten. The latter is rotated, until arrested by the\ contact of the arm 32 of the dog with a stop 29. The tooth returns the platen to original position when acted upon by the lever-controlled returning abutment 28.

That portion of the tooth 15 which contacts with the guide "or confining wall 20 is pref- ,erably given a flat face 15 to prevent it from slipping into recess 19 on its return, before the ratchet 7 and platen'have been returned to their original positions When the tooth 'is exactly opposite said seat 19;

the sprin 18 sets it thereinto, to disconnect it from t e ratchet so as to'afi'ord no obstruction to the usualline-spacing operation; the swing of the lever to normal central position having brought the space be,-.

tween the divergent cam faces 21, 22, to register with the seat 19 in time to accommodate the tooth.

The mount 13 is adjustably secured to the flange or apron 10 of the cover plate 9 by fastenings, as screws 31, 31*, threaded in the mount and passing through slots 33', ar-

ranged about concentric with the line-space ratchet wheel, said fastenmgs having washers 29, 29, which are clamped against the apron to hold the mount where ad- I justed in the slots. Such, adjustment enables the' device to be shlfted to cooperate with different ratchet wheels, the opening 34 being of sufiicient size to afiord room for the tooth 15 to operate in any adjust-- ment. Said washers '29, 29, also serve as stops to arrest the dog 16 andv hence the platen. The combined stops and washers referably have rims 30, beneath which the 0g lies when in contact with the stops, to

revent the dog. from overthrow, if subected to heavy pressure during a vigorous operation of the lever 11. The washers are adjustable about the screws 31, 31, which pass eccentrically therethrough, to enable the throw of the platen to be varied, by varyin a the distance between the normal position of thedog and the washers. The dog may have laterally extending arms 32, 32, to engage the stops.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

'1. In a typewritin machine, thecombination with a platen avi'ng a. ratchet fixed the latter to turn the platen through part of a regular line-space and to return it to original position.

2; In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen having a ratchet,'of a shiftable tooth normally lying out of en-' gagement with the'ratchet, and a lever rocking in opposite directions from a normal idle position to crowd the tooth into mesh with the ratchet to turn the latter and the platen forwardly or backwardly, said tooth.

eing supported independently of the lever and movable relatively thereto.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a laten having a ratchet, of a shiftabletoot normally out of engagement with the ratchet, a guide wall having aguiding surface substantially concentric with the ratchet and interrupted intermediateits ends by a recess in which the tooth normally seats, a lever to rock in opposite directions from a normal central position and having diverging cam faces, the space between which registers with the recess when the lever is in normal position, a shoulder toblock the return of the tooth to its seat when dislodged therefrom by one or the other cam face, abutments controlled by the lever to return the tooth to a point opposite its seat after it has been thrown in one direction or the other,

by the lever to effect the partial rotation of the platen in one direction or the other, and a spring to seat the tooth. 4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen having a ratchet, of a do movable radially and angularly relatively to the platen axle and having a tooth normally seated in a recess out of contact with the ratchet, a lever having divergent cam faces between which the tooth normally seats, to crowd the tooth out of its seat and into mesh with the ratchet, the lever rocking in either direction from its normal central position, shoulders on opposite sides. of the tooth to block its return to its seat, and abutments, one or the other of which is effective depending upon thev direction of stroke of the lever to press against the tooth and partially rotate the platen.

5. In a typewriting machine,the combination with a platen having a ratchet, of a dog radially and angularly movable relativel to the platen axle and having a tooth normally seated in recess out of -contact with theratchet, a lever having divergent cam faces between which the tooth normally seats, to crowd the tooth out of its seat and into mesh with the ratchet, the

gent cam faces between which the tooth normally seats, to crowd the tooth out of its seat and into mesh with the ratchet, the lever rocking in either direction from its normal central position, abutments, one or the other ,of which is effective depending upon the direction of stroke of the lever to press against the tooth and partially rotate the platen, and means controlled by the lever to return the tooth and platen to original position.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combina tion with a platen having a line-spacing mechanism including a ratchet, of a shift-- able tooth normally out of contact with the ratchet, means controlled by a lever to mesh the tooth with the ratchet and turn the latter and the platen, a lug or abutment on the lever to engage the toot-h and thereby return the ratchet and platen to original positions; and means limiting the stroke of said lever to less than a line-space movement of the platen.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen having a ratchet, of a shiftable tooth normally seated in a recess communicating with a guide wall formed about concentric with the ratchet, a lever having an elbow slot one wall of which operates to cam the tooth into contact with the guide wall and into mesh with the ratchet, another wall of said elbow slot operating to force the tooth together with the ratchet and platen through a partial rotation, and a third wall of said elbow slot operating to return the tooth together with the platen and ratchet to original position.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen having a ratchet, of a shiftable tooth normally seated in a recess communicating with a guide Wall intermediate its ends, said guide wall formed substantially concentric with the ratchet, a lever having a double elbow slot to cam the tooth into contact with the guide wall and the ratchet to rotate the platen in either direction and to return the latter to original position, one wall of said elbow s'lotoperat ing to cam the tooth into contact with the guide wall and into mesh with the ratchet, another wall of said elbow slot operating to force the tooth together with the ratchet and platen through a partial rotation, and a third wall of said elbow slot. operating to return the tooth together with the platen and ratchet to original position.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a ratchet wheel, of an adjustably supported mount, having a guide wall lying concentric with the ratchet wheel with a laterally projecting seat or recess, a dogcomprising a plate mounted on the platen axle to have both a radial and vibratory or swinging movement relatively to the platen axle, a tooth on the dog, a spring to hold the tooth normally in the seat or re cess out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, a slotted lever pivoted on the mount, the tooth being accommodated in the slot in the lever, a. cam f-aee-onthe lever to force the tooth to co-act with the concentric portion of the guide wall and into engagement with the ratchet, a shoulder on the lever to block the return of the dog to the seat or recess, an abutment to swing said tooth and ratchet through part of a rotation, returning abutment on the lever to return the tooth to 'position to enter itsseat and be disengaged from the ratchet, and a stopin the path of the do to arrest the platen.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a platen frame in which the platen turns, a tooth to operate the platen, a lever to opcrate the tooth, and a mount having a guide wall with which the -tooth' co acts, said mount supporting the lever, and being adjustably secured to the frame to adapt the mechanism to different line-space wheels.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a line-space wheel, of a platen frame in which the platen turns, said frame having slots arranged concentric to the wheel, a mount, fastenings passing through the slots to secure the mount to the frame, a dog adapted for both vibratory angular and radial movements relative to the wheel, a tooth on the dog co-acting with a guide wall on the mount, a lever on the mount to operate the tooth and dog to turn the platen, and Washers included in the fastenings and effective as stops to arrest the platen.

13. The combination with a platen and line-spacing mechanism including a linespace wheel and a detent, of a fractional spacing mechanism including a lever or handle movable forwardly and backwardly from a central normal position, a stop for arresting the lever, and a dog normally disengaged from said line space wheel, supported independently of the lever and movable by said lever during a single stroke of the latter in either forward or backward direction into engagement with said linespace wheel, and then in a direction to turn the latter.

14. The combination with a platen and a space wheel and a detent, of a fractional spacing mechanism including a lever or handle movable forwardly and backwardly from a central normal position, a stop for arresting the lever, and a dog separate from the lever and normally disengaged from sald line space wheel, and movable by said lever during a single stroke of the latter in either forward or backward direction, into engagement with said line-space wheel, and then in a direction to turn the latter; said lever or handle mechanically held in said central normal position. 15. The combination with a laten, a linespace wheel and a detent, of a ever movable forwardly and'backwardly from a central normal position, stops for arresting such movements of the lever, and a dog normally disengaged from said line space wheel, and movable by said lever during a single stroke of the latter in either forward or backward direction, first into engagement with said line-space wheel, and then in a direction to turn the latter. 16. In a typewriting' machine, the combination with a platen having a ratchet, of a shiftable tooth, normally lying out of en-.

gagement with the ratchet, and a lever having a cam surface to engage said tooth and crowd it into mesh with the ratchet, and an abutment to engage the tooth and turn the ratchet and platen. 17. In a typewriting machine, the combinationwith a platen having a ratchet, of a shiftable tooth normally lying out of en.- gagement with the ratchet, a lever having a cam effective by its contact with the tooth to crowd the tooth into mesh with' the ratchet and having an abutment to engage the tooth and turn the ratchet and platen, and means to return the tooth to idle position. 18. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen frame and a platen having a ratchet, of a shiftable tooth normally disconnected from the ratchet, means forming a guiding surface for holding the tooth in engagement with the. ratchet stationary with respect to the frame, a lever to press against the tooth when in mesh with the ratchet to turn the platen, and a cam operated by the lever to crowd the tooth into mesh with the ratchet.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen havin a ratchet, of a guide wall having a iding surface sub-' stantially concentric with said ratchet and having a recess, a shiftable tooth normally seated in said recess, and a lever effective to crowd the tooth out ofthe recess to mesh it with the ratchet, and thereafter to press the tooth along the said. guiding surface to turn the ratchet and platen, said lever being provided with means to return the platen to original position.

20. In a typewritin machine, the combination with a platen aving a ratchet,'of a shiftable tooth normally seated in-a recess out of contact with the ratchet, a lever, means controlled. by the lever to mesh the tooth with the ratchet and turn the latter and the platen, said lever having an abutment to engage the tooth to return the platen and ratchet to original position, and a spring to seat the tooth out of engagement w1th the ratchet.

21. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen frame and a platen havin a line-space wheel, said frame hav-' ingfs ots concentric with said wheel, of a fastenings passing through accommodated in the seat and adapted to traverse the wall, and a lever to operate the tooth, said lever being pivoted on the mount to be adjustable therewith relatively to the ratchet wheel.

22. The combination with a ratchet, of a doghaving a shiftable tooth normally disengaged from the ratchet and movable in one direction into engagement with the ratchet and in another direction to operatehavingla tooth normally out of engagement with t e ratchet, and a dog-actuating member having a cam surface and operable by a single movement to c'am the dog into en- -gagement with the ratchet and turn the platen, said member .being provided with means to return the platen .to original position. I v

24. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a ratchet, of a dog having a tooth normally out of engage ment with the ratchet, and a dog-actuating member having surfaces to respectively cam the tooth into engagement with the ratchet and to move the dog and ratchet as .a unit to turn the platen.

JULIUS K. LUX. Witnesses:

ISAAC W. JACOBSON,

FRANK E. FRANCISCO. 

